Valves for controlling fluid flow



Jan. 24, 1967 A. E. TOPHAM ETAL 3,300,177-

VALVES FOR CONTROLLING FLUID FLOW 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 18, 1964 lnve ntors:-

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VALVES FOR CONTROLLING FLUID FLOW Filed Feb. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet z F/G.3. 7c 9 6 7 7d9b5 769 10 4 7a 9b 1 i 5 6 -7b 4 7 7d 9 Inventors:- Alan Eric Topham Cedric Henry Topham Attorneys 4 United States Patent Off ce 3,300,177 Patented Jan. 24, 1967 3,300,177 VALVES FOR CONTROLLING FLUID FLOW Alan Eric Topliam, 207 Queengate Extension, and Cedric Henry Topham, Woodlands Views, Grindale Road, both of Bridlington, England 7 Filed Feb. 18. 1964. Ser. No. 345,722 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Apr. 9, 1963, 14,042/ 63 2 Claims. (Cl. 251-158) This invention has reference to valves more particularly quick acting valves of the kind wherein a valve member or stopper is carried by spring loading means on an operating spindle which extends transversely across the bore of the valve body and across the back of the stopper, the spring means urging the back of the stopper against cam means mounted on the spindle whereby on initial rotation of the spindle the cam co-action with the back of the stopper is such that the spring means urges the stopper towards the spindle to initially lift said stopper from its seating in the valve body, whilst further rotation of the spindle carries the stopper round with it to effect quick opening of the valve and conversely quick closing thereof when the spindle is rotated in the opposite direction.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved and simplified arrangement of spring loading means or assembly in such a valve whereby obstruction to fluid flow in the open condition of the valve member is very considerably reduced whilst other practical advantages will be apparent from the following disclosure.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a valve member of a valve of the kind referred to provided with spring loading means in accordance with this invention, the valve member being shown in the initially lifted condition, and

FIGURES 2 to 4 are cross sectional views taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1 and respectively showing the valve member in the closed, initially lifted and fully open positions, FIGURE 3 corresponding in particular to FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings and in the application of the invention to a valve of the above mentioned kind the latter follows the usual arrangement in that the valve member or stopper 1 co-operates with an annular seating 2 co-axially disposed in the bore 3 of the valve body 4 whilst the valve body carries a transverse or diametrical operating spindle 5 behind the stopper 1.

The spindle 5 carries cam means 6, which for the purpose of this invention preferably consists of a series of cams such as the three cams 7 shown and which are of identical and corresponding contour and are arranged along the spindle 5 in spaced relationship.

In order to urge the stopper or disc 1 against the cam means 6 and in accordance with this invention, spring members or arms 9 are provided extending laterally from the operating spindle 5 and are secured at their outer end parts 9a to the back of the stopper 1. The spring members or arms 9 consist of leaf or blade springs each pivotally anchored at one end 9b about the operating spindle 5 so as to extend laterally from the latter, the outer end parts 9a of the leaf springs 9 being secured such as by screws 10 to the back of the stopper 1 at points remote from the centre of the latter.

For obtaining a suitable resilient action of the leaf springs 9 in urging the back of the stopper 1 against the cam means 6, each leaf spring 9 is preferably as shown pivotally anchored by means of a curved end or hook portion 9b engaging about the operating spindle 5 alongside the cam means 6.

In order to have a balanced spring loading action the leaf springs 9 are shown arranged in one or more pairs, the springs 9 of the or each pair extending in opposite directions in relation to the operating spindle 5 and where as shown, a series of spaced cams 7 are provided along the latter, the'leaf springs anchorages 9b are shown alternating with the cams 7 and may also serve to locate the stopper 1 relative to the cams 7 and spindle 1. The

number and distribution of the leaf springs 9 and/or cams 7 may vary according to the size of the stopper 1 and intended working conditions of the latter.

The form of each cam 7 is such as to provide an eccentric rounded portion or heel 7a and a flat portion 7b. When the stopper 1 is fully closed against its seating 2 (FIGURE 2) the said rounded portion or heel 7a of each cam 7 bears against the back of the stopper 1 so that .the stopper 1 is thrust away from the operating spindle 5 and the leaf springs 9 are thus bent or inclined in a stressed manner between their anchorages 9b to the spindle 5 and their outer parts 9a where they are secured to the back of the stopper 1.

On turning the operating spindle 5 in the direction of the arrow whereby the flat 7b of each cam 7 is brought against the back of the stopper 1 (FIGURE 3) the action of the leaf springs 9 is to urge the stopper 1 against the cams 7 or flats 7b thereof thus effecting initial lifting of the stopper 1 from the seating 2, the leaf springs then lying closely against the back of the stopper 1.

On further rotation of the operating spindle 5 in the same direction the stopper 1 is swung bodily with it to the fully open position FIGURE 4 edge-on in relation to the seating 2. Owing to the fact that the leaf springs assume a position more or less flat against the back of the stopper 1 it will be appreciated that they offer little or no obstruction to fluid flow past the stopper 1 when the latter is in the open position.

With a view to further assisting fluid flow, each cam 7 is of elongated faired or taper form as shown so as to present a forward end or nose 7c of minimum extent from the back of the stopper 1 in the open condition. For this purpose the flat 7b of each cam 7 which bears against the back of the stopper 1 for opening movement, extends as shown for a considerable distance in the opposite direction from the heel 7a whilst a back inoperative portion 7d of the cam 7 is mutually inclined from the heel 7a to the nose 7c of minimum thickness. Thus not only is the cam form faired or streamlined to facilitate fluid flow but also a substantial extent of the flat portion 7b of each cam 7 is provided for bearing contact against the back of the stopper 1 during movement of the latter to the open position.

When closing the valve the action is the converse of that described with reference to FIGURES 2 to 4, reverse rotation of the spindle 5 bringing the stopper 1 back across the seating 2 (FIGURE 3) where it is located by the usual limit stop 1a for actual seating on final turning back of the spindle 5 (FIGURE 2). Provision may be made for locking the spindle 5 in the closed and/or open positions of the valve.

We claim:

1. A valve of the character described comprising a valve body having an annular seating co-axially disposed in a bore thereof; a disc-like stopper in said bore and cooperating with said seating; an operating spindle rotatably carried by said valve body and extending across the bore thereof and across the back of the stopper; cam means rotationally fast with the operating spindle and arranged for co-action with the back of the stopper, said cam means being of elongated taper form from an eccentric rounded heel portion at one end to a minimum thickness at the other end of a flat extending from said heel portion for a substantially greater distance from the spindle than the said heel portion, which flat co-acts with the back of the stopper for imparting opening and closing swinging movement to the latter on corresponding rotation of the operating spindle Whilst the heel portion co-acts With the back of the stopper for effecting initial opening lifting movement of said stopper and final closing seating movement thereof; and leaf springs extending laterally in opposite directions from pivotal anchorage about the operating spindle alongside the cam means and secured at their outer ends to the back of the stopper for balanced spring loading of the latter against the cam means.

2. A valve according to claim 1 wherein the cam means comprises a series of cams each of the stated elongated taper form and spaced along and rotationally fast with the operating spindle and correspondingly arranged for co-action with the back of the stopper whilst pivotal anchorages of the leaf springs about the operating spindle are arranged in an alternating manner in relation to said cams and locate the stopper relative to the latter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,669,119 5/1928 Bliss 251158 2,612,338 9/1952 Flosdorf 251158 2,934,310 4/1960 Kinney 251163 FOREIGN PATENTS 503,263 12/1954 Italy. 1,056,441 4/1959 Germany.

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primal Examiner.

CLARENCE R. GORDON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A VALVE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A VALVE BODY HAVING AN ANNULAR SEATING CO-AXIALLY DISPOSED IN A BORE THEREOF; A DISC-LIKE STOPPER IN SAID BORE AND COOPERATING WITH SAID SEATING; AN OPERATING SPINDLE ROTATABLY CARRIED BY SAID VALVE BODY AND EXTENDING ACROSS THE BORE THEREOF AND ACROSS THE BACK OF THE STOPPER; CAM MEANS ROTATIONALLY FAST WITH THE OPERATING SPINDLE AND ARRANGED FOR CO-ACTION WITH THE BACK OF THE STOPPER, SAID CAM MEANS BEING OF ELONGATED TAPER FORM FROM AN ECCENTRIC ROUNDED HEEL PORTION AT ONE END TO A MINIMUM THICKNESS AT THE OTHER END OF A FLAT EXTENDING FROM SAID HEEL PORTION FOR A SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER DISTANCE FROM THE SPINDLE THAN THE SAID HEEL PORTION, WHICH FLAT CO-ACTS WITH THE BACK OF THE STOPPER FOR IMPARTING OPENING AND CLOSING SWINGING MOVEMENT TO THE LATTER ON CORRESPONDING ROTATION OF THE OPERATING SPINDLE WHILST THE HEEL PORTION CO-ACTS WITH THE BACK OF THE STOPPER FOR EFFECTING INITIAL OPENING LIFTING MOVEMENT OF SAID STOPPER AND FINAL CLOSING SEATING MOVEMENT THEREOF; AND LEAF SPRINGS EXTENDING LATERALLY IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM PIVOTAL ANCHORAGE ABOUT THE OPERATING SPINDLE ALONGSIDE THE CAM MEANS AND SECURED AT THEIR OUTER ENDS TO THE BACK OF THE STOPPER FOR BALANCED SPRING LOADING OF THE LATTER AGAINST THE CAM MEANS. 